OSI/MHS Gateway Programmatic Interface (GPI) Programming Guide

Glossary
OSI/MHS Gateway Programmatic Interface (GPI) Programming Guide—424822-001
Glossary-19
object identifier
object identifier. In ASN.1, a set of values identifying an object in an ASN.1 abstract syntax
notation defined by the CCITT.
In the GPI, a unique identifier of a particular object generated by the GPI service when
the client program creates a new object, copies an object, or reserves an object. The
client program passes the object identifier to any GPI procedure operating on the object.
A GPI object identifier is not related to an ASN.1 object identifier.
object management. A means to operate on messages and their elements as objects.
object-name template. In DSM, a name that stands for more than one object. Such a name
includes one or more wild-card characters, such as * and ?. See also wild-card
character.
object tree. The internal form of an X.400 communication maintained by the GPI.
object type. In DSM, the category of objects to which a specific object belongs: for
example, a specific disk file might have the object type FILE, and a specific terminal
might have the object type SU (subdevice). A subsystem identifies a set of object types
for the objects it manages. The SCF interfaces to Compaq data communications
subsystems use standard keywords to identify the types. The corresponding
programmatic interfaces have object-type numbers (represented by symbolic names such
as ZCOM-OBJ-SU) suitable for passing to the SPI SSINIT procedure.
In the GPI, a category of objects having a common purpose and structure is called a
“class.”
octet. A sequence of eight bits. Also called a “byte” or “character.”
octet string. A string comprising octets.
open system. Any computer system that adheres to the OSI standards.
originator. The person or application that prepares and submits messages for delivery
through an X.400 message handling system.
O/R (originator/recipient) address. A list of attributes that describes a user and locates that
user in relation to the physical or organizational structure of the MHS or the underlying
network. An O/R address, which is part of the O/R name, provides routing information
for an X.400 message handling system.
O/R (originator/recipient) name. A list of attributes that identifies a user as an originator or
potential recipient of a message or probe. An O/R name contains an O/R address.
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection). A set of standards used for the interconnection of
heterogeneous computer systems, thus providing universal connectivity.
OSI manager process. A process in the OSI/AS subsystem that performs subsystem
management functions. The OSI manager is the focal point for all OSI management
activities. It maintains a management information base (MIB) that contains the